Faithfull Ale is a celebration of Pearl Jam's 20th anniversary as a band and its extraordinary debut album, "Ten." In recognition of these milestones, this Belgian-style golden ale is delicately hopped to 20 IBUs and fruit-forward from 10 incremental additions of black currants over a one-hour boil. Faithfull clocks in at 7% ABV.

Beer: Reviews & Ratings

20$ for this "ultra-rare". It's an awesome ale, but its lacking. The currant is just not there. This brew seems as if it were rushed to bottle. The taste is good with subtle hints of vanilla, and black peppercorn. Is it worth 20$, no. Is it worth trying once, yes. (266 characters)

Huge Pearl Jam fan, so i bought 18 of these. One left to age. My favorite band from my favorite brewery. I'll be honest though, it taste more like a Belgium Ale, there is a creamy note to this beer with a bit of spice. Not much on the hoppy note, I'll update once it has a little age on it. (290 characters)

Bought 2 bottles of this. Had each time PJ last played in Philly. Had my last one last night as PJ played once again.

Think this beer is average at best and likely the reason DFH supposedly retired it. Pours gold in color with okay head and suspended particles throughout. Smells of currants but that's about it. Pretty tame otherwise. Tasted pretty bland and usual - not quite off-centered enough for DFH. Felt easily drinkable but was completely letdown by a commentarive beer for one of my favorite bands. Needs more character or spunk like the band. (555 characters)

a - poured a one finger thick creamy white head into a tulip glass that left a thin ring throughout. the body was a hazy orange color due to sediment.s - fruity and yeasty.t - yeast, fruit, slight hop bitterness.m - thin and crisp.o - interesting take on a BSPA but i wasn't a huge fan of the fruit in this one. (315 characters)

We pour a brew of rosy, brownish pumpkin coloring. It holds a one and a half finger tall head of soapy white bubbles, showing okay retention. Speckled lacing is left around the glass as it goes. A chill haze cuts clarity, while thick bands of sediment are noticed all throughout the liquid. Carbonation appears to be active. The aroma gives heavily pale malts, reminiscent more of your standard American Pale Ale, with thin hints of golden Belgian malts, mildly clovey phenols, wet wheatiness, and metallic yeastiness. With warmth the grain calms down quite a bit, giving room for orange flesh, apricot, and red cherry fruitiness, honey and vanilla icing sweetness, with slight grassy hops to balance on the back. Booze mixes to add bitterness, while the black currant sits subtly in the background giving flashes of tartness. Our first impression is that the flavoring is much more interestingly tart than expecting, with less of that sweeter “fruit beer”-ness to challenge. As we sip, bittered and chalky Belgian pale malts, soft Belgian yeastiness, gravel, lemon zest and orange peel bitterness, and soured black currant and raspberry bite start things off. Enhancing bitterness pulls us to the peak, where spice of coriander and clovey phenols meet with more bittered orange peel, lemon rind, vanilla cream, and honey syrups, much like a mildly sweeter, more soured Wit. Marking the transition to the finish are those currants, giving the bulk of their tartness here. To balance is additional bitterness of pilsner grain, juicy yeast, browned apple sweetness, those aromatic grassy hops, lemon and orange citric fleshiness, more vanilla buttercreaminess, and a final wash of cheaper metallic pale grain. The aftertaste breathes citric fruitiness, grassy and lightly herbal hoppiness, mildly adjuncty pale grain, metallics, sweaty wheatiness, lemon ice pops, spicy booze, and light buttery warmth. The body is medium, and the carbonation is on the high side. Each sip gives soft and nicely contributory slurp and smack, with fresh cream and froth to the lip. The mouth is initially cooled and coated, but eventually pulled to a mildly astringent dryness and pucker along the lines of the hard palate. The abv is appropriate, and the beer drinks easily.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this beer was the flavoring. The nose actually started out a bit cheap, with the grain taking on a pseudo-adjuncty feel. This thankfully faded with warmth, giving more genuine grain, fruit, and sweetness. With the inclusions of the black currants we were expecting a much more fruity beer, but instead were delivered something much more akin to a sour when it comes right down to it. This is not to say that this was a wild/sour, but the tartness of the fruit took us off guard. To note we are drinking a Batch 1, November 2011 bottling, so the sweetness has had time to settle, with the grain coming much further to the front. With warmth this beer gets better, remaining dynamic and something unique for the brewery. (3,015 characters)

750ml bottle into a Chimay Chalice/Goblet (about a year and a half old)

A: A quite cloudy golden brown with a light head.

S: Smells like a "standard" beer to me since I mainly drink stouts, barleywines and ipas. There is a slight sweet/tart smell. Mainly malt smells.

T: It goes down very easily and the taste is very mellow. I get very little fruit notes but they have probably died down by now.

M: Very smooth with very little carbonation in the mouth.

O: This would probably have been much better fresh; however, I don't know the style very well but it tastes decent. I bought this because it was a DFH brew that I hadn't had yet. I was surprised to find it. Today was a bad day for beer but this was probably the best of the night. (740 characters)

750ml bottle poured into a New Belgium globe. This bottle is about a year and a half old at the time of consumption.

A: Pours a hazy golden-orange. Bone white head settles very quickly. Lacing is small and spotty.

S: Very juicy on the nose with fruit forward aromas of currant and ripe raspberries. Undercurrent of musty and chalky yeast. Malt scents of shortbread, pie crust, and a slight hint of toast. Pineapple esters and a ghostly trace of alcohol.

T: Strong but even pull of currant throughout. Very mild balancing hop presence comes through with a subtle oily and herbal taste. Light clovey phenol spike. Gentle touch of peppery alcohol. Yeasty chalk and must far in the background. Malts are reminiscent of pie crust, shortbread, and toast. Short, forgettable finish of currant juice, pale malts, and a ghostly alcohol presence.

O: The nose is very fruit-forward and sweet, but thankfully Faithfull Ale shows more balance in taste. The Belgian aspects of it are very downplayed, as the yeast takes a passive role. Complexity suffers as a result, and it feels a little dumbed-down. A decent beer in the end, though Dogfish Head perhaps played this one a little more safely than they should have. (1,318 characters)

Like many others of you out there, Pearl Jam is my favorite all-time band. So naturally, when I saw this, I bought one for my tummy and one for my cellar. Purchased this from an "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town" in Florida. Lets hope this one isn't "Wasted" and it is "Alive" with flavor. I am enjoying this on my "Porch" on a cool winter day of 72F.

Pours clear and a very dark straw color, with tiny tiny hints of "Black" and tan "Corduroy" colors present in the head. The head "Yields" quickly and retreats into "Thin Air" on top of the beer. The beer is served into a Chimay goblet so bubbles race to the top and resemble "Bugs" scurrying for food.

The aroma is "Nothing as it Seems" because there is limited Belgian qualities to this one. Some coriander, definite yeast aromas, some alcohol, a malt liquor type aroma. The aroma is surely "Insignificant" in the realm of things, and I "Soon Forget" I am drinking a Belgian beer. Thin body and kind of sticky on the tongue.

"Sometimes" we build beers up to be bigger than they should be. Perhaps I have done that here. With all of the "Oceans" of other beers out there, this one did not make me "Smile", but instead proved my "Dissidence" is expected. I will keep one in the cellar and check the "Rearview Mirror" in a couple months to see if things have changed. Maybe my "Daughters" would like this one, but not me. (1,394 characters)

Appearance... Light orange/yellow color. Hazy. Pours with large thick bubbles which settle around the ends of the glass and linger for quite a bit of time. Light lacing on the glass.

Smell... Light Vanilla. Sweet

Taste... Light/Medium Sweetness. Light fruity aroma, although it's not pronounced enough to recognize easily. Those two aspects shine at the front end, but then fall flat a bit. There is light sweetness at the back end. Little or no bitterness here, so the hops are not really shining here.

Mouthfeel... good body. not too thin or thick, however, I wish there was a bit more going on here.

Overall... Dogfish has done PJ justice. Not sure how Currants (or beer) relate to Pearl Jam, but they certainly work well in the beer. It's easy and enjoyable to drink. Would make a great drink for a warm summer night.

Poured into a Due South Brewing Co. snifter. Bottleneck says Bottled in 2011 ‘03 1.

A- Pours a medium golden color with a ½ inch white head that bears little retention time before fading away to a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a small web of surface foam. Decent ring of lacing adheres to the glass.

T- Sweet white grape juice flavor with some mild yeast and spiciness. Alcohol’s presence is subtle and complimentary. The currants give the flavor a green olive-like character but isn't incredibly noticeable. Very little malt and even less hops. Becomes less drinkable as it warms.

M- Light body, medium-low carbonation and has a slick feel. A bit sharp from the alcohol and wine-like characteristics.

O- Not that it’s necessarily a bad beer, I’m just wondering when DFH is going to stop continuing to produce the same beer with a different label. It makes me want to do a side-by-side comparison of this, Midas Touch, Chateau Jiahu, Pangaea and Noble Rot to see what, if any, are the major differences between them because I hardly see any. Good thing I got this bottle practically for free. (1,237 characters)

Hits up front with currant then a bitter spice hop followed by zesty bread notes. This one is very complex and tasty lots of good flavor, but it doesn't quite come together the way in which my mouth would be pleased. (359 characters)

T: Very pilsner like again, but that’s not what I’d expect from a Belgian golden. Yeasty. The currents and grape are somewhat distant. Biscuity. Really, this doesn’t have enough of the fruit evident in the nose.

M: Very light, but very sharply carbonated. Alcohol is well-hidden.

O: It’s decent and worth a try if you have someone to split it with, but it would have benefited from more body and more currant. (633 characters)

A: Poured a hazy, golden yellow color beneath a thing, tight head of thin, white carbonation that left a bit of lace on the glass.

S: Fruity and floral, with hints of licorice and blackberries. A mellow, spicy hop aroma highlights the delicate, sugary nose.

T: There's an initial wave of raspberry and blackberry flavors that rush the tongue and dry out quickly with confectioner sugary sweetness. This segues into a more traditional, spicy, peppery and minty effervescence with floral and tropical fruity flavors of a traditional Belgian pale. The finish is dry, buttery and crackery malts with a mild, spicy, herbal hop resin and sugary booze flavor that wipes away with a mellow finish.

M: Medium-bodied ale with a slight chew from yeast and malt sediment, dry, crackery and sugary malts with a slightly spicy and alcohol-tinged finish.

O: The currants are downplayed a bit, aside from the initial fruitiness of the brew. This 7% ABV specialty, fruit and music inspired Belgian pale ale has appeal at a base level, and does not disappoint there. However, the grand scheme of things is not entirely interesting or monumental. It's a good ale, but not one I'm clamoring to put back in production. (1,257 characters)

I bought this around a year ago if I had to guess, it was in a dark stable temperatured cabinite for about 8 months and in my fridge for about 3, not ideal, I know.

A - Pours a very light golden/yellow with lots of stations sediment throughout the drink once the carbonation relaxes. Poured a large 2 inch near white head that had ok retention, lacing is ok. Looks a little thin.

S - Some sweet fruity apple and yeasty flavors, sweet caramel malts are obvious as well as a biscuity quality. A little weak.

T - There are the currants, pretty sweet overall and just like it smells. Yeastyness is minimal, maybe a little at the finish. Sweet biscuit malts and sweet apples/currant, maybe slightly grassy.

M - Much thicker than anticipated, medium bodied, at first it appeared extremely carbonated but now has minimal carbonation, this is a good thing in my opinion.

O - For what it is its pretty nicely done. I would like to try a fresh batch but this has no sign of aging too long, maybe I would have picked up on some bitterness had it been consumed months ago but the sweet malty and fruit flavors seem to be where they should be. (1,135 characters)

A: Pours a relatively clear straw yellow to goldenrod, with a light white head leaving some lace.

S: Bready malt, some yeasty notes, apple with a hint of currants.

T: Malt and yellow apples. The currants are noticable adding a hint of jam, but the overall flavour is dominated by the yeast and malt character.

M: Medium-bodied, crisp, a little too powerful carbonation. Off-dry.

O: I was a tad disappointed in this. I really wanted the currants to play a lot more of a part in the overall character of the beer. I got an OK pale ale with a bit of astringent fruit. (593 characters)

Smell: Fruit in the nose but not as strong as I was expecting, which may be good. A light yeast note adds to the bisquity malts.

Taste: I am glad the currants do not extend too far out, this beer is very balanced. The slight fruity sweetness is the first part of the taste. Imagine how the Belgian phenols smell, that fills in the rest of the taste, subtly. Very little bitterness or sour, but a tiny bit of tart. This one grows on me.

Mouthfeel: One of the smoothest beers I have ever had. The body is middle to heavy, with a lower carbonation. I am not sure how brewers control mouthfeel, but Dogfish Head nailed it with this one.

Overall: I am glad to have tried this beer, I really enjoy Pearl Jam's music. I was not bowled over by this beer, but it is well made. I cannot imagine a random person just picking this one up in the beer store, so newbs need not be warned of anything. (1,106 characters)

glassware: Infinium flute....occasion: the deck is officially framed...appearance: bubbly white head that rises on a hazy gold body...aroma: fruit-fortified--the currants are sour and stronger than some reviewers have stated; not a turn-on or a turn-off, but abrupt...palate: light and spritzy--not as strong as Pearl Jam's early or late catalogue--and easily drinkable (a.k.a. little character--decidely not Eddie Vedder!)...taste: slightly pungeant, sour fruit flavors....overall: like Pearl Jam's better songs, the subtle power (alcohol) of this beer is best served in an easily drinkable package... (602 characters)

Full disclosure - I am a huge Pearl Jam fan. Big thanks to my mom for getting me a bottle of this as a present on my 29th birthday! Best mom ever. I brought the bottle to dinner to celebrate getting engaged and shared it with the best man at my upcoming wedding, also a lifelong PJ fan.

Poured into a wine glass, its color was straw yellow. Mostly clear with a slight haze and a small white head. Above average carbonation. Aroma consisted of bread and yeast with subtle fruits from the currants and a touch of alcohol. Flavor was slightly sweet but not overpowering. Lightly hopped. Would be more refreshing if the alcohol wasn't as present, but the carbonation makes it easier to drink.

I tried this beer on tap several months before and was really disappointed. Something seemed off about it so I held off on reviewing it until I could try the bottled version. Overall, not a bad beer and something different than your usual strong pale ale. If they knocked the alcohol down a bit, I think it would benefit the beer. I probably wouldn't get it again but I am glad I got a chance to try it.

Here's to 20 more incredible years of Pearl Jam! Cheers. (1,152 characters)